Vince Cable

Vincent Cable, MP, is one of a cross party group of MPs who are promoting 'compulsory restorative justice' for those who create graffiti tags - cleaning up the mess they have made and meeting the victims of crime.

The call is made in Early Day Motion 1874 and Vincent Cable has supported the motion in his capacity as Vice Chair (formerly Chair and Founder) of the All Party Group Victims of Crime.

Vincent Cable praised the efforts of the local police since criminal damage, including graffiti, has been falling rapidly (by 26% in the first quarter of the current financial year as against the same period in 2006/7); and collaboration with schools who have helped trace tags: "there have been big improvements since I held the first debate in parliament on graffiti over five years ago. Then, the problem seemed out of control and some parts of the local community were totally blighted by it. Since then council clean-up and active policing has improved matters. But this is a continuing problem and the public who continue to suffer from it would welcome tougher restorative justice, with punishment more clearly related to the offence".